Aakash Chopra backs India stars for IPL 2026 [Source: @DoctorofCricket, @Sports_Himanshu/x]Team India clinched the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this month with an emphatic win over New Zealand at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Fresh off the high-octane spectacle of the showpiece event, Team India players will now pivot seamlessly into the glitz, intensity and the unforgiving grind of the upcoming IPL 2026 season. According to former India opener and expert commentator Aakash Chopra, at least two of India’s T20 World Cup winning stars are primed to carry their form into IPL and emerge as strong contenders to win the coveted Orange and Purple caps. Chopra backs Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah to win Orange and Purple Caps in IPL 2026 Aakash Chopra was recently asked to predict the winners of the coveted Orange and Purple Caps for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. Interacting with CREX on Instagram, the former India opener took part in a rapid-fire round featuring multiple questions centred around IPL 2026 predictions. When asked who could win the Orange Cap this season, the cricketer-turned-commentator, without hesitation, named CSK’s new recruit Sanju Samson. Similarly, Chopra backed Mumbai Indians icon Jasprit Bumrah to claim the Purple Cap by finishing as the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2026. Also Read- Sanju Samson Cheated In The Middle Of T20 World Cup, Personal Staff RevealsThe former opener also believes that Rajasthan Royals opener and teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi will win the ‘Emerging Player of the Season’ award. Incidentally, much like Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah, Suryavanshi too tasted World Cup success earlier this year, having lifted the U19 crown with India in Zimbabwe. Aakash Chopra predicts four playoffs teams Aakash Chopra also gave his expert prediction on the four teams likely to make the IPL 2026 playoffs. When asked about the same, he named Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and defending champions RCB as his top four picks. Moreover, Chopra backed Delhi Capitals to end their trophy drought by lifting the coveted silverware this time around.Sanju Samson to make his CSK debut on a trail of T20 World Cup successSanju Samson is set to make his CSK debut this season after the blistering wicketkeeper-batter was traded to the franchise from Rajasthan Royals last year. Riding a remarkable run of form, the senior IPL batter recently notched three successive half-centuries for Team India, all in match-winning efforts during the business end of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The cricketer plundered 89 off just 46 balls in the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, taking his tournament tally to 321 runs in just five innings. For his exceptional run at the showpiece event, Samson was also named the ‘Player of the Tournament’ following India’s emphatic triumph. Jasprit Bumrah set for Mumbai Indians reprisal Much like Sanju Samson, Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah also played a pivotal role in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph at home earlier this month. The legendary speedster picked up 14 wickets in the tournament to finish as its joint-highest wicket-taker. He claimed four of those in the final, conceding just 15 runs to dismantle New Zealand. A Mumbai Indians stalwart through and through, Bumrah was retained by the franchise for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. Also Read- Zaheer Khan Enters New T20 League After LSG Snub In IPL
